Neltje Blanchan

Neltje Blanchan De Graff Doubleday (October 23, 1865 – February 21, 1918) was a United States scientific historian and nature writer who published several books on wildflowers and birds under the pen nameNeltje Blanchan.[1] Her work is known for its synthesis of scientific interest with poetic phrasing.

The Wyoming Arts Council established the Neltje Blanchan Literary Award (now called the Blanchan/Doubleday Writing Award), which is given annually to "a writer whose work, in any genre, is inspired by nature." The award was funded in Blanchan's memory by her granddaughter, Neltje Doubleday Kings, an abstract artist who served on the board of the Council from 1985 to 1988. In 2010 Neltje Kings made an estate gift to the University of Wyoming, including her land, ranch and studio buildings, art collections, which is the largest in the history of the university. When realized, it will become the UW Neltje Center for the Visual and Literary Arts.[3]